Rubberlike article



F b. 12, 1952 E, CUN MAN 2,585,438

RUBBERLIKE ARTICLE Filed April 8, 1948 JNVENTOR. /-?4uL [T 04 INGMA/VPatented Feb. 12, i952 RUBBERLIKE ARTICLE Paul E. C lingman, Dayton,hio, ,a.ss ignor to Gen eral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich acorporation of Delaware Application April 8, 1948, Serial No. 19,760

3 claims. (01.15am)v This invention relates to resilient bumpers and isparticularly concerned with extruded rectilinear bumpers.

It is a primary object of the invention to. pro: vide an extrudedrubber-like rectilinear bumper adapted for attachment to sheet metalparts and the like wherein said bumper includes a head portion and anose portion both of rectilinear extent and connected by a reduced sizerectilinear neck portion, said neck and head portions having a cavityextending .the entire length thereof and at least partially extendinginto the nose portion.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a view in perspective of the extruded stock used in makingbumpers.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the stock.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a bumper.

Fig. 4 is a view in section of a bumper in inserted position.

Fig. 5 is a side View of another type of bumper made from extrudedstock.

Fig. 6 is a view in section of a bumper being inserted into a piece ofmetal.

Rubber bumpers are important additions to many types of equipment.-

Automobile bodies use numerous bumpers thereon to prevent frictionalrubbing and thereby lessen noises in the body. For example, bumpers areused between the hood and the body and are likewise used on the doors,windows and the like. All of these bumpers have in the past been moldedparts made from rubber-like material, such as, natural rubber, reclaimedrubber and synthetic rubber which include such materials asbutadiene-styrene copolymers, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers,polychloroprene, etc. These molded parts are relatively expensive tomanufacture, and since the quantities involved are so great their usepresents a problem of rather large monetary interest.

This invention is directed to a means for reducing the cost of suchbumpers without in any way changing their usefulness and in fact without making it necessary to modify the body design. The invention isdirected in the main to an extruded bumper wherein long strips 20 ofextruded material have a uniform cross sectional configuration of thedesired shape. These strips are then cut transversely, to provide aplurality of bumpers 2 2. Thebumperlfl includes ahead or buffer portion24 and a tapered nose or anchor portion 26, which is joined to head 24by are: duced neck portion 28.; "The bumper preferably includes a cavity30- therein which may be extruded the entire length of the strip 20.This cavity 30 is preferably open at the top thereof for reasonshereinafter explained. In the least expensive embodimentof theinvention, the tapered nose portion 25is of the same length as the headportion 22 as shown in Fig. 3. However, it is possible to cut the noseportion 26 to a less dimension if desired, such a modification beingshown in Fig. 5 at 36. The sheet metal or other part to which the bumperis to be attached is provided with a hole 38 preferably punchedtherethrough which is preferably of rectilinear extent and this is theonly difference between the installation of the present bumper and theold style molded bumper which required a circular hole. When placing abumper in position on the sheet metal part, a tool 40 is used which ispressed into the cavity 30. The nose or anchor portion 26 is thenentered into the aperture 38 and the tool 40 pressed downwardly. Thisstretches the nose and reduces its cross sectional dimension whereby thenose portion 26 slips through the hole or aperture 38 until such time asthe head 24 contacts the sheet metal 39. At this time, the tool isremoved and the sheet metal fits within the neck portion 28 and thebumper is thereby immovably secured to the sheet metal 39.

The present bumper has additional advantages of a round bumper. Roundbumpers often turn by vibration within their receiving apertures andeventually the head portion is severed by the edge of the sheet metalfrom the nose portion, thereby permitting the bumper to dropout ofplace. In the present instance, the neck portion 28 and the aperture 38both being of rectilinear extent, such as a rectangle or square,prevents turning of the bumper due to vibration whereby the bumper isprevented from being severed during use. Thus the new type bumper has ingeneral a longer extent of useful life.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An extruded bumper, having a length of the same dimensional order asits depth, formed from resilient rubber-like material for use inconnection with a piece of sheet metal having an aperture therethroughof rectilinear extent consisting of a rubber-like part comprising: arectilinear head portion, a rectilinear tapered nose portion having alength equal to the length of the head but with a width of lessdimension than the width of the head, and aneck portion connecting thehead and nose, said ne ck'portion having a length equal to the length ofthe head and nose portions but having a width less than that of the headand nose portions, said bumper having a cavity opening through the headportion thereof and extending longitudinally the entire length of thehead portion and also extending the entire length of the nose portion,said cavity being at least partially within the nose portion.

2. A one-piece extruded bumper, having a length of the same dimensionalorder as its depth, formed from resilient rubber-like material forattachment to a piece of sheet metal having an aperture thereinofrectilinear extent comprising: a head portion of rectilinear shape, anose portion of rectilinear shape .but shorter than said head, anda'neokportion of rectilinear shape integrally connectingsaid nose andhead portions, said bumper having a cavity opening through the headportion thereof and extending longitudinally the entire length of thehead portion and also extending the entire length of the nose portion,said cavity being at least partially within the nose portion.

3. A bumper having a length of the same dimensional order as its depthand formed of resilient rubber-like material having a bufier portion andan integral anchor portion adapted to be forced through an aperture in asupporting mem her, said bufier and anchor portions being connectedtogether by a relatively smallerneck portion integral therewith, saidbumper having a cavity of rectilinear shape therein opening through theupper surface of said buffer portion and extending down through saidneck portion and partially into said anchor portion, said cavityextending the full length of said bufier, neck and anchor portionsrespectively, said bumper having such rectilinear shape in one directionthat a series of duplicate bumpers can be made by cutting off.relatively short lengths from an elongated strip of extruded stockhaving a uniform cross section.

PAUL E. CLINGMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 204,913 Pratt June 18, 18701,915,249 Jorgensen June 20, 1933 1,998,791 Schanz Apr. 23, 19352,024,101 Kahn Dec. 10, 1935

